Reflections on therapy, trauma, and the nervous system

Articles and reflections from my practice

This page brings together articles and reflections from my practice.

Some focus directly on therapy, trauma, the nervous system, neurofeedback, and relationship patterns. Others reflect more broadly on the values and human questions that shape how I think about suffering, care, relationship, and psychological work.

These reflections are not a substitute for therapy. They are offered as a way to explore ideas, recognise patterns, and get a fuller sense of how I think about therapeutic work.

If you have come here because you are considering therapy, you may also want to look at:

Getting started ›
For a first orientation if you are unsure where to begin.

Individual therapy ›
For anxiety, overwhelm, shutdown, self-criticism, trauma, dissociation, and recurring patterns.

About me ›
For more about my background and the way I came to this work.

Key values ›
For some of the values that shape how I hold therapy, supervision, and clinical responsibility.

July 18, 2026

Why do I go blank, overthink, or lose words under stress?

July 18, 2026/ Paolo Imbalzano

Some people seem articulate and capable until stress rises. Then the words disappear, thinking becomes scrambled, or the mind starts spinning. This article explores why going blank, overthinking, or losing words under stress can be a protective nervous-system response rather than a personal failing.